Nokia N86 8MP coming to the US for $558
By Chris Ziegler 
posted Jul 17th 2009 12:42PM
posted Jul 17th 2009 12:42PM
posted Jul 17th 2009 12:42PM
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I told myself I was not going to buy another S60 phone until Symbian^2 was launched.
But darned if I'm not intrigued.
iPhone.
really? That's all you have to say?
Yeesh. Anyways, I think its a little late in the game for a $600 S60 phone even though it was ahead of it's time when it was released. Unless their new OS really kicks it into gear and their phones get onto US carriers with subsidized pricing Nokia is gonna struggle breaking into the hi-end US market.
It's basically the same OS and UI (S60v3 FP2) that went on the N85. Generally, the OS and software are stellar - perhaps the most userfriendly non-touch OS. (It did not transition so well into touch screens, i.e. the 5800 and the N97, but that's another story).
The N86 is also, quite possibly, the single most capable phone on the market (perhaps along with the N85 and N97). I'm not talking about the user interface (given that it only has a numeric keypad and a 2.6" OLED screen - though it is gorgeous!) - but about actual capabilities. For instance:
- With the included TV-out cable, a Bluetooth keyboard and a nearby WiFi access point or a cellular data plan, you can use it as a TV set-top-box to do light computing tasks (web browsing, e-mail, office documents, even access remote UNIX hosts via SSH) from your living room.
- Get a device cradle/mount for your car (e.g. from ProClipUSA.com), and use it as your GPS navigation system. Directions can be heard over your car stereo via Bluetooth or a 3.5mm auxillary input. Some advantages over standalone navigation systems are: (a) choose destination from your phone contacts, (b) live traffic updates and map corrections.
- In addition to thousands of Symbian-specific applications, you can also run from an even larger set of general J2ME mobile applications (e.g. the excellent and super-fast Opera Mini web browser, )
- If you have a data plan, connect your laptop via USB or Bluetooth, and access the internet using your cell phone data plan (tethering). It is also possible over WiFi (e.g. with JoikuSpot), but this will use more battery.
- The camera is quite possibly the best that's seen in a mobile phone yet (the rival would be the Nokia N82). And as a first, the LED (normally used as flash) can stay on during video recording for illumination.
While most smartphone data plans cost $30/month on AT&T (including the iPhone plan, which by the way is mandatory, to offset the $400 subsidy that AT&T provide), the data plan for the N86 would be $15 per month (or $10 if you also have unlimited messaging). That's a difference of $360 or $480 over the 2-year contract term for such a smartphone - except that, of course, you don't need to renew a contract with the N86.
BLOW YOURSELF!
Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaand that's why Nokia is losing market share faster than... something that is slower.
Dang. it's just soooo overpriced. I want it to be subsidized.
No, you don't. Didn't you see what AT&T did to the E71? Carriers lock down and neuter subsidized phones.
If you want to save some cash, find a high value phone from your carrier, buy it subsidized, then ebay it. I've been doing this for years.
$558 is a very high price, i'm hoping some of the retailers sell it alot cheaper.
Something else to keep in mind is that if the N86 were to be subsidized by AT&T, it'd be more than likely that the phone's required data plan would be AT&T's more expensive $30 "PDA Personal" plan that they're currently tacking onto the carrier-branded E71x and Surge, rather than the $15 "Data Unlimited" plan that they offer for their non-smartphones (and unlocked phones).
The $15 plan is what I use for my unlocked N82, and I'm sure that it's all that would be required if using the N86 (as long as it stays un-subsidized).
10 dollars for family unlimited data if you have the 30 dollar family text messaging package on a family plan!!
As a Nokia blogger I also concur with this phone being overpriced and to be honest, this phone should have been released back in August 2008 when the N85 and N79 made their debut, why jump or cycle through three devices, I'll include in that mix the Nokia N96 as well, when really the Nokia N95 8GB was a premiere phone. I would have like this phone come in at $299.99 out the door. Just my take on this,.
Not sure how that would be possible considering the n86 was originally going to be called the n85 8mp! (it's effectively a revised n85). Surely is worth rather more thxn $299.. I think people forget the price of phone unsubsidized, iPhone is $900!
This has one of the best slides that Nokia has released. The build quality of this is top notch.
Who wants to pay $558 when one could a real 10 meg digital camera for $100?
erm because a $100 camera couldnt take calls, go on the internet, navigate you, play mp3's, transmit mp3's over fm etc etc
I've wanted one of these since I read a review on allaboutsymbian touting the upgraded camera and streamlined OS-hardware integration. A faster N85, which I almost jumped on, with a better camera and superior build quality - tempered glass overlay, hardset keys - oh, yes.
Now to wait until Newegg puts one on sale.
Do the international versions of the N86 have US 3G (like the N85 does)? If so, is there much difference between the US versions (besides maybe the voltage & shape of the power adaptor)?
Also, would I be able to take the US version abroad and still get international 3G?
edit: *is there much difference between the US version and int'l versions...*
The overseas version doesn't have the 850 3G band. This is why nobody in the US buys this phone, that and you don't have a US warranty.
I'm pretty excited about this phone, more so than i have been in a long time about a phone.
Does the US version also include Euro/Asia 3G bands?
To MincyFresh,
No, the international version of the n86 only have dual band 3G 900/2100 bands. The US version has triband 3g 850/1900/2100 . Check nokia-usa website and compare it to nokia -uk . I was going to get the international version so i can have arabic on it but it wouldn't work with any 3g here [ so i'm stuck with n85 until something new comes out].
@ ali..
You can still put arabic on your phone.. All you got to do is change the product code and re-install the firmware and just buy the arabic keypad and install it on your phone..
I did that to two of my Nokia phones..
Btw you need to use pheonix to change the product code.. Just google that and you will find what you need to do to change it.. Also you need to find the right product code.. :)
it's true, with all the hoopla around the iphone (which is by the way a mass market product). people tend to ignore the meaning and importance of the specs on a so-called smartphone, I know that Nokia will not make a big success in the US, because the american consumer are trained or zombie-trained to buy a phone inside a carrier store and get locked for two year, plus they enjoy getting ripped of functions that were supposed to be on the initial phone, honestly I hate when a Nokia phone gets subsidized by AT&T or T-mobile (you guess I am from europe so GSM rules!). because they sit on their asses and mess up the whole software, the E71 was a very very good smartphone, but as soon as AT&T got it it's like they did a brainstorming on "how can we screw this phone". Sad to say but if Nokia is weak, they will do too much concession and let AT&T screw these High-end devices. The Iphone is the best phone out there right but you get screwed when you realize that your asses are locked by so many restrictions, plus as a high-end device fanboy, i would hate to see grandma holding a n97 with a bad taste at&t logo on it....I just cannot envision it.
Nokia is making enough money outside the USA, they just need to stay a niche brand, and avoid the pitfall of the "me too" logic. let samsung and LG or SE do that part, because the carriers are not playing fair in the states...so it's a lost battle anyway. When the market will be like the mature market like Europe or Asia, the discussion can be started, but for now, even retards have iphones, so I'd rather keep my loyalty to Nokia.
I see many comments on this phone with concerns to the difference between the USA version and the International version.
From what I have read online the only difference I can find is with the frequencies of the 3G band.
850 for the US and 900 for the rest of the world.
The software and offered features seem to be the same.
So for a person traveling overseas, like myself, the Unlocked USA version would seem to be the way to go!
Since it would work in Asia and the USA.
For me I have a different Sim Card for the countries i frequent.
I would appreciate any comments on items I may have missed!